Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Azkals visits Albay for a break

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 2011 (PNA) – “I have never dated a Filipina, maybe in the future I might go into a relationship but right now I am more focused on playing good football,” this was the assertion by Jason Sabio, one of the five Philippine Azkals that visited this city.
Sabio, in an interview, said he looks forward to having a relationship with a Filipina but he was quick to say that this (relationship) would be set aside because he is concentrated more on playing football.

Sabio, 25, single, a Filipino-American from Alabama, USA, with Filipino parents, his father is from Marikina while his mother is from Koronadal, South Cotabato in Mindanao.

Asked if the group failure to get the World Cup Football qualifying was because they were more involved in socializing with celebrities rather than training well for the competition, he flatly denied the allegation, saying that the team worked hard and remains focused.

He claimed that despite the two months rigid training, the Kuwait team was very strong for us to handle.
“Despite the upset, our team remained focused and played with one goal,” Sabio said.

Asked what’s in store for the Philippine Dragon Boat Team having won five gold medals in the United States International Boat competition without any government support, he said government support would not come quickly.

He said “in 2004 when the Azkals started our team and the Philippine Dragon Boat team were on the same boat, we had no support from the government but as we moved on, government and private support came in.”

“As the team grew and football was considered one of the country’s national as well as international sports events, private sponsorship and government support and recognition came in,” he said

Sabio, together with Ricardo Becite, Nate Burkey, Patrick Ace Bright and Richard Pacana, including the crew of Sports Unlimited, arrived here for a three-day holiday.

The team visited Embarcadero Mall and tried the malls Zipline and Go-Cart raising ground, then they trek the famous Lignon Hill where one can view the entire city.

The team would stay for a day at the Misibis Bay Resort and luxury island resort in Bacacay, Albay.
The Azkals’ two-day stay at the Misibis Resort would be hosted by Zaldy Co, president and CEO of the Sunwest Group, a corporation that operates the Misibis Bay Resort, Embarcadero Mall and hotels Venezia and Saint Ellis here.

The Azkals return to action in the Long Teng Cup starting September 28 in Taiwan. The team will be a mix of the seniors team and the Under-23 squad preparing for the Indonesia Southeast Asian Games in November.

The Azkals saw their World Cup qualifying run end last July 28 when they lost to Kuwait, 1-5, on aggregate in the second round.

Still, they already made history by reaching the second round after beating Sri Lanka in their first World Cup qualifying tie in close to 10 years. ■

Monday, August 22, 2011

AirAsia launches Philippine offshoot

CLARK, August 15, 2011 (AFP) – Asian budget carrier AirAsia launched a new affiliate in the

Philippines on Monday, promising to undercut its rivals on regional and domestic routes.
To minimize costs and avoid Manila’s crowded terminals, AirAsia Philippines will fly out of a former US airbase that has been turned into an industrial zone in Clark about 90 minutes’ drive north of the country’s capital.

“We will be substantially cheaper (than our competitors),” AirAsia Philippines chief executive officer Marianne Hontiveros said at the launch in Clark where she oversaw the arrival of the airline’s first Airbus A320.

Although the launch ceremony was held on Monday, she said the airline was not expected to start commercial operations until October when it received its final flight certification from the government.
Hontiveros said AirAsia Philippines’ first routes would be between Clark and Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and Bangkok, with its fleet expected to expand to four Airbus A320s by June next year.

She said the carrier would then branch out to the rest of Asia, while also looking to fly domestic routes in the Philippines.

Hontiveros said there were also plans to make Clark a hub for the entire AirAsia network’s routes to and from the United States.

Like the rest of Asia, the Philippines has seen a boom in low-cost air travel in recent years with home-grown budget carrier Cebu Pacific rising to overtake Philippine Airlines as the nation’s dominant airline.

But Hontiveros said AirAsia’s reputation should ensure the local affiliate succeeded amid the rising competition.

“We’re banking on the very strong brand of AirAsia. We might be low-cost but we are not cheap (in quality)… we plan to be a substantial player,” she said.

Philippine investors including Antonio Cojuangco, a cousin of President Benigno Aquino, have a 60-percent share in AirAsia Philippines, with the Malaysian parent company led by Tony Fernandes holding the other 40 percent.

AirAsia has similar affiliates in Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, with another to start in Japan, which are independent companies but work together as one network.

AirAsia already has routes from Clark to Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu daily. Hontiveros said the parent firm would continue with its flights even after AirAsia Philippines started.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Mike Arroyo ‘flees’ despite watch list order

BI ordered to probe Mike Arroyo’s departure

MANILA, Aug 5 (Mabuhay) – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to probe the circumstances behind former first gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo’s departure for Hong Kong over the weekend for medical checkup.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said she directed BI Commissioner Ricardo David to “dig deeper” into Arroyo’s departure last July 31st following the discovery that there is no record for “Jose Miguel Arroyo” in the database of the immigration bureau.

De Lima said that once verified that Arroyo did not go through the usual processing of departing passengers,then somebody must have aided him.

“Nakapagtataka, wala sya sa BI database. Ang ibig sabihin, hindi dumaan, apparently, sa immigration. Somebody else facilitated the processing of the documents kaya nagkaganoon,” de Lima said.
“Si Commissioner David na mismo, even without me [first] telling him, sinabi na niya na pinapa-imbestiga na niya, pinapa-trace niya sino yung nag-assist, sino yung nag-facilitate, sino yung nag-process at hindi nag-reflect sa database,” she added.

The BI was able to confirm Arroyo left last Sunday via commercial flight, de Lima said.

“BI doublechecked and nalaman nga nila through the flight manifest and the boarding pass [of] Cathay Pacific na lumabas nga pala noong July 31,” she said.

The justice chief now wants to find out if BI personnel merely committed a lapse in judgment.

“Sabi ko can you dig deeper, can you look into that, alamin natin ano ba yan – lapse lang ba yan ng mga BI personnel or sinadya ba yan or is there anything more to it,” de Lima said.

Mike Arroyo’s lawyer presents proof

The legal counsel of the former First Gentleman showed ABS-CBN documents of Arroyo enplaning for Hong Kong last Sunday, disproving claims by De Lima that there were no records of his departure.
Inocencio Ferrer sent scanned copies of Arroyo’s Cathay Pacific luggage tag, visa on arrival at Hong Kong, receipts for the travel tax and the airport user’s charge.

Mr. Arroyo also presented a leaf of his passport, showing he was stamped on departure July 31 and arrival in Hong Kong.

De Lima confirmed reports that the BI was able to later locate a “Jose Miguel Aroyo” entry in the immigration bureau’s departures database, but wondered why such a “high profile” personality – if this record was of the former first gentleman – was erroneously recorded.

“Lalo na high profile yan, bakit nagkakamali kung saka sakali? It’s a cause for concern. But dapat imbestigahan pa rin and let’s wait for the results of the investigation. Let’s not [draw] any conclusion at this point, hintayin na muna natin ang resulta ng imbestigasyon,” she said.

While she may give consideration to VIP’s with medical conditions and allow them assistance through immigration personnel, de Lima stressed everybody has to be recorded in the immigration database.

“Ako siguro maiintindihan ko kung yung mga VIP ay hindi na pumipila lalo na kung, let’s say, may health problem, like what they’re saying na nagpapacheckup siya (Mr. Arroyo) sa Hong Kong. Pero ang hindi ko maintindihan is that yung mga papel dapat dumadaan yan, pinapa-process yan, at kung dumadaan eh di dapat nasa database yan. So ano ito?” she said.

Watch list order came too late?

De Lima meantime lashed back at critics who say her issuance of a watch list order (WLO) Thursday against Mr. Arroyo came too late in the day since the former first gentleman was already able to exit the country.

She stressed she cannot just “arbitrarily exercise” her authority to issue WLO’s.

“I beg to disagree na late on my part. I received the official request of the Senate yesterday morning.

Hindi ang DOJ ang nag-iimbestiga ngayon, as of the moment, noong issue ng [Philipine National Police] choppers. It’s the Senate, so ang Senate talaga ang mag-rerequest dapat. They did that, but yesterday morning lang,” she said.

“I cannot just arbitrarily exercise my motu proprio powers. Naki-criticize na nga ako paminsan minsan ‘pag nag-iissue ako ng watch list order,” she added.

De Lima also pointed out that Arroyo was already out of the country even before his name was implicated in a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigation on the controversial sale of 2 used Robinson R44 Raven1 helicopters as brand new to the PNP in 2009 through Manila Aerospace Products Trading.

“Kailan ba parang na-implicate siya? Hindi ba yung mayroong nagturo kay FG noong Tuesday lang ‘di ba? And at that time wala pang request,” she said.

De Lima issued watch list order no. 2011-410 dated August 4, 2011 against Mr. Arroyo and his reported secretary, Rowena del Rosario.

The order said the issuance was on the basis of a formal request dated August 3, 2011 by Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Senator Teofisto Guingona III.

While he vehemently opposed the WLO for “violating his constitutional right to travel,” Mr. Arroyo, assured he will be flying back from Hong Kong on August 8.

Watch list order for CGMA still under study
De Lima meantime said she continues to mull the issuance of a WLO for former President now Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who is facing several plunder charges before the DOJ.

“There are cases [against Mrs. Arroyo]  dito sa amin sa DOJ under preliminary investigation, so I can exercise my motu proprio powers,” she said.

Mrs. Arroyo was slapped with separate plunder complaints before the justice department for the alleged illegal sale of the old Iloilo airport, and alleged misuse and diversion of over P550-million in Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) funds and some P1.6-billion worth of fertilizer funds for her presidential campaign in 2004.  (MNS) ■

Friday, August 5, 2011

State Senator Yee visits L.A., seeks support of Fil-Am leaders

If all goes well, Yee may yet be the first Asian-American to become SF city mayor

To say that the Chinese are now dominating the globe – no thanks  to its almost 10% growth rate compared to the U.S.’ dismal 1.3 percent during the same second quarter  period this year – is an understatement. But one Chinese immigrant from China in San Francisco, where 30% of the city residents are of Chinese descent, may yet become the first Asian-American ever to be elected as mayor of the city come November.

Arriving in the U.S. when he was just three years old, Leland Yee, currently serving as California State Senator representing the Bay Area, was perhaps born to serve. Prior to becoming a state senator back in 2006, Sen. Yee served four years in the California State Assembly. In 1996, Yee was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He then served in the San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education for eight years prior to his stint in the Legislature. A son of a U.S. Army, Sen. Yee is the first Chinese American ever to serve in the California State Senate.
Last Wednesday, Sen. Yee was in Los Angeles to meet with several Asian leaders, Filipinos among them. Together with our friend and colleague, Francis Espiritu, the man behind Philippine News, who traveled with Yee all the way from up north, the senator granted BALITA MEDIA a one-one-one interview to share with our readers what he has in store if elected San Francisco mayor.

Jarred by what just happened in Washington where the U.S,. Congress almost caused the U.S. to go into a default and the biggest drop in the stock market since 2008, Yee said the city of San Francisco is still reeling from an economic crunch where unemployment is over nine percent, even if tourism may be on the rebound in 2010.

Yee told BALITA MEDIA that growing business in the city will be his first priority if elected mayor of San Francisco. A Democrat, Yee said this will involve giving tax breaks to businesses but not just to big corporations but to small businesses as well. “Tax incentives will be tailored to specific business,” Yee said, and that training of the unemployed and of those still in school will be “extremely critical” if the city intends to address its present economic state.

A pillar of public education, Yee also took notice of the rising cost of education that he said is impacting the city but at the same recognized the deteriorating state of education in the whole of United States whose students are faring miserably compared to other students in other  states, not to mention the whole world.
“We are the eighth economy in the world,” Yee said of California. “Yet, we are ranked 47th among the 50 states in funding public education. This is wrong.” Yee said that with the state’s resources, “we can be the very best in educating our children.”

As a result, Yee said many of the Bay Area’s more influential and affluent families are choosing to go to private school. “What’s happening is that we’re losing the more influential with the loudest and strongest voice because they’re no longer in public schools. More and more of these individuals with money and power have been forsakenly leaving  our public schools.”

When asked if immigrants, in particular undocumented children, are impacting public schools, Yee said he supports the Dream Act – a measure to allow undocumented students to earn permanent residency after attending high school in the U.S. – because “it is important that we educate any child so that they will not become a burden to the society.”

Any student who doesn’t go to college, Yee said, “will not realize his or her potential.” Most importantly, Yee said, “anyone whom we educate, it’s not that they intend to leave the state,  they’re here to stay and contribute to the economy.”

Interestingly, while Yee may yet be the first Asian-American mayor of San Francisco, supporters said Yee wants a Filipino to win a California Senate seat. A friend to many Filipino leaders in Los Angeles, Filipino-Americans look up to Yee in the State Senate, where has always been a proponent of measures to help the Filipino-American World War II veterans and other measures that benefit the community.
Yee told BALITA MEDIA that he also looks forward to establishing better trade relations with the Philippines to enhance economic cooperation between San Francisco and Manila to bring more business to the city, where a huge number of Filipinos reside and work in the San Francisco’s financial district. Yee said he came to Los Angeles and meet with local leaders because he knows that many relatives of Fil-Ams in Southern California reside in San Francisco.

Yee is running against current board members Board President David Chiu and Supervisor John Avalos, City Attorney Dennis Herrera, Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting, former supervisors Bevan Dufty, Michela Alioto-Pier and Tony Hall, and venture capitalist Joanna Rees. And according to recent reports, interim San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee is also contemplating on running for mayor for the city, which is home to more than 800,000 people, which according o Wikipedia, is the 13th most populous city in the U.S.

Luchie Mendoza Allen
Luchie Mendoza
Luchie Allen
Balita

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Everyday's a feast at Ang Lutong Pinoy in OC

LIVING in OC is a totally different experience compared to being a resident of Los Angeles. The roads are wider, houses are bigger and of course, Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm are located in this area. And since OC is a county, sometimes finding a Filipino restaurant for our kababayans longing for Filipino food prepared in traditional prubinsya way just like grandma used to prepare it may be a little difficult.

Thankfully, there's one on Champan Ave., in the City of Orange, home to the famous Chapman College – the school of would-be Hollywood production artists – a restaurant that caters to our distinct Filipino cuisine. Ang Lutong Pinoy may only be a Filipino fastfood restaurant, but it sure prepares dishes the way we get to enjoy them mostly during the celebration of our patron saints back home in the Philippines, when the best of Pinoy chefs share their mastery in cooking Filipino dishes.

This is why the slogan for the Ang Litong Pinoy restaurant is "Araw-Araw ay Piyesta" (Everyday's a Feast). The fastfood restaurant, owned by proprietor Emmauel T. Torracha, also offers groceries to prepare Filipino food, desserts, etc.

But what's best at Ang Lutong Pinoy is that they have also Lechon (roasted pig!), which is a must for any fiesta.

According to Emmanuel, Ang Lutong Pinoy has lots of other services, including catering for your party for as many as 50 guests, while their prices remain very competitive. The restaurant, which is also a one-stop-shop for the Filipino who needs to send a balikbayan box back home, buys a phone car and even for those who need tax preparation, has a friendly and very courteous staff to serve your needs so you can experience and serve the fiesta feeling in your home or in your place of business.
For catering and all other needs, please call (714) 634-9400. Ang Lutong Pinoy is located at 1738 W. Chapman Ave., Orange, CA 92868. For more information, please visit www.anglutongpinoy.com.

Luchie Mendoza Allen
Luchie Mendoza
Luchie Allen
Balita

Best service at discounted rates at Fair Lady Hair & Nail Salon

DEBT ceiling deal, Arab Spring, unemployment, stocks falling. Hmmm…But hey, regardless, we still have to look pretty, right? Besides, if you’re unemployed, the prettier you are, the more chances that you land the next job opening that comes along. And the prettier you are, the more that a company will keep you in their payroll. In these dismal times, bosses and everyone else would also like to see a pretty picture, don’t you think?

This is why it’s not surprising to see beauty salons such as the one in Stevenson Ranch offering discounts and pampering their customers because of the newfound way of keeping ourselves feeling energized during these hard economic times.

“Not only do we make our customers feel like beautiful all the time, we offer the best quality of service to meet their complete satisfaction,” says Fair Lady Hair & Nail Salon owner Rachel Yun.
“We also offer the best prices.” In addition, “Our beautician and manicurist are experts in the field with almost 20 years of experience,” she adds The Fair Lady Hair & Nail Salon has been serving the nice urban community of Stevenson Ranch for over ten years now. The salon offers a full service of waxing, hair, nail, and skin care.

“We also have a wide variety of beauty services at our salon in a relaxed and friendly environment,” rachel says.

The Fair Lady Hair & Nail Salon specializes in the following: haircuts, color, perms, highlights, eyelash extensions, permanent make-up, straight & silk smooth shiny hair, ultra strength permanent straightening system, (japanese style) hair rebonding, magic straight.

Call for appointment at (661) 799-3830. The Fair Lady Hair & Nail Salon is located at 25836 W. Hemingway Ave. Stevenson Ranch CA 91381. Call (661) 799-3830 for an appointment.
Luchie Mendoza Allen
Luchie Mendoza
Luchie Allen
Balita

Everyday's a feast at Ang Lutong Pinoy in OC

LIVING in OC is a totally different experience compared to being a resident of Los Angeles. The roads are wider, houses are bigger and of course, Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm are located in this area. And since OC is a county, sometimes finding a Filipino restaurant for our kababayans longing for Filipino food prepared in traditional prubinsya way just like grandma used to prepare it may be a little difficult.

Thankfully, there's one on Champan Ave., in the City of Orange, home to the famous Chapman College – the school of would-be Hollywood production artists – a restaurant that caters to our distinct Filipino cuisine. Ang Lutong Pinoy may only be a Filipino fastfood restaurant, but it sure prepares dishes the way we get to enjoy them mostly during the celebration of our patron saints back home in the Philippines, when the best of Pinoy chefs share their mastery in cooking Filipino dishes.
This is why the slogan for the Ang Litong Pinoy restaurant is "Araw-Araw ay Piyesta" (Everyday's a Feast). The fastfood restaurant, owned by proprietor Emmauel T. Torracha, also offers groceries to prepare Filipino food, desserts, etc.

But what's best at Ang Lutong Pinoy is that they have also Lechon (roasted pig!), which is a must for any fiesta.

According to Emmanuel, Ang Lutong Pinoy has lots of other services, including catering for your party for as many as 50 guests, while their prices remain very competitive. The restaurant, which is also a one-stop-shop for the Filipino who needs to send a balikbayan box back home, buys a phone car and even for those who need tax preparation, has a friendly and very courteous staff to serve your needs so you can experience and serve the fiesta feeling in your home or in your place of business.
For catering and all other needs, please call (714) 634-9400. Ang Lutong Pinoy is located at 1738 W. Chapman Ave., Orange, CA 92868. For more information, please visit www.anglutongpinoy.com.

Luchie Mendoza Allen
Luchie Mendoza
Luchie Allen
Balita